Johns and Alshon Tested while Seeds Tumble in Singles Shocks in Malaysia

The Panas Malaysia Cup 2025 delivered shocks from the outset as the main draw got underway on Thursday, with seeds tumbling and top players pushed to their limits.

UPA Asia Trailblazer Marco Leung pulled off a career-defining victory against second seed Grayson Goldin, grinding out a 2-1 (11-9, 10-12, 11-9) win that sent shockwaves through the draw. After edging the opener by the narrowest margin, Leung dropped a tight second game but refused to fold. The decider saw both players trading blows until Leung found another gear at the finish line, closing out the biggest upset of his career.

Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiang Wen delivered her own thriller against fourth seed Hannah Blatt, surviving a 2-1 (10-12, 12-10, 13-11) marathon that pushed both players to their limits. Down in the opener, Huang clawed back to force a decider where neither player could gain separation. The match finally ended on Huang’s paddle, sending the Canadian to a surprise early exit.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Sahra Dennehy emerged as Thursday’s biggest winner, punching her ticket to all three quarterfinals. After dropping the opening game to third seed Liz Truluck, Dennehy roared back for a 2-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-6) comeback victory. She wasn’t done there – teaming with Santhosh Narayanan in Mixed Doubles, Dennehy completed a perfect sweep of the North Americans by defeating Blatt and Goldin 2-1 (7-11, 11-8, 11-3).

Even Ben Johns wasn’t immune to the day’s drama. The #1’s first-time partnership with Christian Alshon got pushed hard in their opener against Vietnamese duo Hien Truong and Quan Do. After cruising 11-0 in the first game, Johns and Alshon suddenly found themselves in a dogfight, eventually escaping 2-1 (11-0, 9-11, 11-8) as the crowd rallied behind the underdogs. Johns found smoother sailing in Mixed Doubles, securing a straight-games victory alongside Anna Bright.

Friday’s quarterfinal action promises more drama as the draw opens up following Thursday’s upsets.